Former British prime minister Tony Blair on Wednesday denied putting pressure on South Africa while he was in office to help remove Zimbabwe leader Robert Mugabe in a military operation.Former president Thabo Mbeki claimed in an interview that Britain had urged it to topple Mugabe when a political and economic crisis escalated in the late 2000s.But Blair's spokesperson denied this had happened."T

Thirty four more defectors from MDC-T, MDC-N, Mthwakazi Liberation Front and ZAPU, joined Zanu-PF on 23rd November 2013, in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Zanu-PF SA District chairperson and his executive held a welcome reception at the Zanu-PF SA District offices in Central Johannesburg. The event was attended by members from Kempton Park , Rosettenville and Central Johannesburg branches.The def

The Swiss ambassador to Nigeria Dr. Hans-Rudolf Hodel has stated that U.S.$700 million stashed in Swiss banks by the late military head of state General Sani Abacha has been returned to the Nigerian government.Hodel said this at a news conference in Abuja. He added that Swiss and Nigerian governments have agreed to request the World Bank to participate in the review of the use of the funds on welf

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai says President Robert Mugabe confided in him that he wanted to retire but fears his party would disintegrate.Tsvangirai, who shared power with Mugabe for almost five years in a fractious coalition government, told mourners during the burial of his chief of security Benson Muchineuta that the succession dilemma was one of the major reasons why Mugabe was stickin

Married life got off to a rocky start for one couple when the groom's pregnant mistress turned up at the reception intent on starting a fight.The uninvited guest, who was dressed for the occasion in her own wedding outfit and reportedly drunk, wrestled the bride to the ground as the groom attempted to pull them apart.'You didn't have an abortion while you could and now you come here with your big

A CHINESE tourist who fell into a gorge at the Victoria Falls while taking pictures has escaped with only bruises, a Zambian tourism official said. The tourist, named as Wang Shun Xue (45), plunged into the shallow section of the gorge and survived with "only minor injuries," John Zulu, manager of the National Heritage Conservation Commission in Livingstone, told AFP."The depth of the gorge is 25

THE Government must consider "chemical castration" for rapists, Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development Minister Oppah Muchinguri said yesterday. Chemical castration is the injection of the Depo-Provera drug in rapists that reduces testosterone levels, which in turn lowers sex drive.Speaking during the launch of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence in Gweru, Muchinguri said t

Zanu-PF's extraordinary Politburo meeting held on Saturday exposed the ugly factionalism ripping apart the ruling party as bigwigs openly exchanged harsh words in front of an attentive President Robert Mugabe, with some shedding tears in the heat of the moment, the Financial Gazette can exclusively report.The drama filled meeting got started with President Mugabe taking umbrage at totalitarian ten

THE number of HIV-related deaths in the country has significantly declined from just under 160 000 in 2003 to less than 70 000 last year, Health and Child Care deputy minister Paul Chimedza said yesterday.Chimedza was speaking at the launch of the World Health Organisation (WHO) 2013 guidelines for the use of antiretroviral medicines for treating and preventing HIV infection in Zimbabwe."The numbe

THE State yesterday made an application for the extradition of Mahlathini Mpofu of Plumtree who is wanted in South Africa on charges of housebreaking and stealing a car and goods worth R500 000 at A-Z Electrical Contractor.The regional prosecutor-in-charge Admire Chikwaya made the submission before regional magistrate Merylene Mutshina, who set the matter for December 3.Allegations against Mpofu,

ZANU-PF bigwigs are divided over the support of candidates participating in the provincial elections in Matabeleland on Saturday.In Matabeleland North, Zanu-PF politburo member Obert Mpofu's influence will come to the test when his ally and incumbent provincial chairperson Richard Moyo battles with his deputy Reeds Dube.Dube reportedly enjoys the support of the Speaker of the National Assembly and

A JZ MOYO High School student, who assaulted a colleague on the head, back and hand with a steel pipe following a misunderstanding, was yesterday sentenced to three years that was suspended for the next three years.Leslie Ndlovu (17) had pleaded guilty to an assault charge when he appeared before Gwanda magistrate Sheila Nazombe.Prosecutor Jefta Nyikadzinashe told the court that on October 14, Ndl

AN EMAKHANDENI High School teacher appeared in court yesterday facing charges of forging "O" and "A" Level certificates to secure a teaching post.Kenneth Nyere (25) pleaded guilty to two counts of forgery and was remanded in custody to today by regional magistrate Merylene Mutshina.Allegations against Nyere are that sometime between January 2011 and October 2013, he took Simbarashe Nyandenga's "O"

The Transport and Infrastructural Development ministry permanent secretary Munesu Munodawafa has said the government is set to restart the stalled dualisation of the country's busiest highway, the Harare-Beitbridge Road, after identifying a new foreign contractor following the failure by a local consortium to undertake the project 10 years down the line.Munodawafa told journalists in Masvingo on t

THE case of MDC-T National Assembly member for Mkoba, Amos Chibaya, who is facing charges of undermining public confidence in the uniformed forces, has been referred to the Constitutional Court by Gweru magistrate Mrs Phathekile Msipa. Chibaya recently made an application to the court through his lawyer, Mr Reginald Chidawanyika of Chitere, Chidawanyika Law Firm, in which he raised constitutional